Apparatus and method to control and adjust water consumption by a toilet during refill of the bowl and reservior

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to an apparatus and a method for plumbing installations and more particularly to a mechanism and use of a mechanism contained within the water tank of a household toilet which improves the water consumption efficiency of the toilet by minimizing the amount of water consumed when refilling the toilet reservoir and bowl. The mechanism can be a constriction or water limiting device, such as an adjustable valve, pinching, squeezing or similar device, positioned in line with a refill tube, and between the fill valve and the overflow tube. By adjusting the flow-rate or maximum volume of water that can pass through the refill tube, the refill time for the toilet bowl and water reservoir can be synchronized, causing the reduction or elimination of water-wasting during refilling time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/009,226 filed Dec. 28, 2007, naming Efraim Shalev as sole inventor, and titled “A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSERVING WATER WHILE REFILLING TOILET”, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to plumbing installations and more particularly to a mechanism contained within the water tank of a household toilet which improves the flushing efficiency of the toilet by minimizing the amount of water consumed when refilling the toilet reservoir and bowl.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional toilets have operated by flushing waist into the drain lines using the force generated by gravity rushing water to the toilet bowl. Traditional toilets include a porcelain reservoir, also called a tank, mounted immediately above a porcelain bowl from which 1½ to 4 gallons of water are rapidly drained in order to flush the waste into the sewer system.

The foregoing traditional toilet is wasteful and inefficient since a relatively large quantity of water is used to accomplish each flush. This is because the limited elevation of the reservoir provides only a modest water pressure—the water pressure created by the weight of the water stored in the reservoir. As the body of water flows through the connection tube of the reservoir, it siphons and flushes the standing water in the bowl and its waste contents into the drain line. The typical modern toilet in the U.S. uses between 1½ to 3½ gallons of water per flush.

The amount of fresh water consumed by flushing toilets has motivated considerable legislation and invention, such as Federal laws mandating the installation of toilets in all new construction that use 1.6 gallons or less of water per flush. Many geographic regions of the United States, such as Southern California, have experienced prolonged periods of drought, which has encouraged the creation of various toilet designs aimed at reducing the amount of water consumed by traditional toilet designs. Furthermore, the flushed water represents a considerable volume of the sewage that must be generated and treated. Sewage delivery systems and treatment plants are expensive to construct and maintain, and require large amounts of land and have offensive odors.

The motivation to conserve water has led to various attempts to reduce toilet water consumption using combinations of systems seeking to reduce the reservoir size and modify the flushing mechanism. Such inventions have reduced the reservoir size to 1.7 gallons or less. However, such water reduction systems have been faced with problems when the reservoir size is further reduced. One such problem is that in many cases for the waste to completely drain from the bowl, it becomes necessary to flush the toilet multiple times. This completely negates those benefits of the “low-flush” toilets, as the total consumption per use rises to 2-3 times the intended consumption rate.

Conventional gravity toilets, similar to the toilet illustrated in FIG. 1, are manufactured in many variations from various brands. Most conventional designs include the use of a refill hose or pipe that refills the standing water in the bowl.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a conventional gravity toilet which includes a reservoir 102 designed to hold a first predetermined amount of water, indicated by reservoir water level 103. The water in the reservoir 102 is held in place by a flush valve 104 which prevents the water from flowing through the connection tube 105 into the toilet bowl 106. The first predetermined amount of water in reservoir 102 is determined based on the design of the toilet and the amount of water necessary to flush the toilet. The reservoir includes an overflow tube 107, set at a height slightly above the reservoir water level 103. The overflow tube 107 is connected directly to the Connection Tube 105, with a direct opening into the toilet bowl 106.

Should the refill mechanism in the toilet fail to stop the water from flowing into the reservoir, then the excess water will flow harmlessly through the overflow tube 107 into the toilet bowl 106 and down to the main drain 110.

Toilet bowl 106 contains a second predetermined amount of water indicated by second water level 108. The maximum height of the second water level 108 is determined by the design and height of the water trap 109. As water enters the bowl 106 from the top, the added water pressure forces water from the bottom of the bowl into trap 109, and into the main drain 110.

When the toilet is flushed i.e., torque is applied to arm 111 with the outside handle, the flush valve (flapper) 104 rises and the water from the reservoir 102 quickly enters the bowl 106, thereby forcing the waste and water in the toilet bowl 106 into the drain 110. This sudden increase in water pressure in the bowl creates a siphon effect in the trap 109, causing the majority of the water in the toilet bowl to pass through the trap into the drain 110.

With the reservoir empty, the float 112 in the reservoir falls, thereby causing the fill valve 113 to open, causing water from the house water supply hose 115 to flow into the reservoir and refill the reservoir to the water level 103. When the water level approaches the predetermined water level 103, the float 112 floats up, closes the fill valve 113 which stops water from refilling the reservoir 102.

The entire time that water from the fill valve 113 fills the reservoir 102, water also flows through refill tube 114 into overflow tube 107, and thereby refills the toilet bowl 106, as the reservoir is being filled. This means that in order for the reservoir and toilet bowl to both sufficiently fill with water to the first water level 103 and second water level 108, respectively, the toilet bowl must reach the second water level at the same time or before the reservoir reaches the first water level 103.

In a conventional toilet with flushing system as described, the refill tube 114 provides unmeasured, unlimited flow of water that refills the toilet bowl 106, and continues to supply water to the bowl 106 as long as the reservoir 102 does not reach the predetermined first water level 103.

After the toilet bowl 106 reaches the second water level 108, but before the reservoir 102 reaches the first water level 103, any water that enters the toilet bowl 106, such as from the refill tube 114, passes through the trap 109 and into the drain 110. This means that after every flush, and during the refill of the reservoir 102, some amount of water from the refill tube 114 that is supplied to the bowl 106 is wasted into the drain 110.

In a typical toilet, the time difference between when the toilet bowl 106 is already at its predetermined level 108 and when the reservoir 102 completely refills results in the wasting of about a liter of water per flush. In the typical daily use of a toilet this could amount from one to two discarded gallons of water per person per day.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a solution for the wasted water resulting from the time lag between when the toilet bowl in a typical toilet fills and the time when the fill valve turns off the flow of water to the refill tube.

An example embodiment of the present invention may include an apparatus that reduces water consumption in a toilet following the release of water from a reservoir. The apparatus may include a toilet bowl and a reservoir that holds water from a water source. The bowl and reservoir may be connected by a tube or an aqueduct structure. The reservoir may include a fill valve that includes a float that aids in detecting whether water in the reservoir is below a first predetermined water level. The reservoir may also include an overflow tube that passes water to the connection tube, a refill tube positioned in a flow of water between the fill valve and the overflow tube, and a water limiting device in the flow of water between the fill valve and the overflow tube.

When the water level detection mechanism detects that the water in the reservoir is below a first predetermined water level, then the fill valve passes water into the reservoir and the refill tube. As water flows through the refill tube the water limiting device limits the flow of water flowing through the refill tube to reduce the time difference between when the reservoir reaches the first predetermined water level and when the bowl reaches a second predetermined water level.

The water limiting device is positioned between the fill valve and the refill tube, in the middle of the refill tube, between the overflow tube and the refill tube, or may be a component of the fill valve to which the refill tube is connected.

The water limiting device may be an adjustable valve, a pinching device that constricts the refill tube, or a compression tube that constricts the refill tube, so long as the necessary constriction to the flow of water in the refill tube may be identified and set. If the limiting device is an adjustable valve, then it may be either a mechanical valve or an electric valve. Furthermore, the process by which the flow of water is limited may be by constriction, or by measuring the volume of flowing water and stopping the flow of water after a predetermined volume has passed.

Another example embodiment may relate to a method for reducing water consumption in a toilet following the release of water from a reservoir. The method includes detecting that water in the reservoir is below a first predetermined water level, passing water through a fill valve into the reservoir and an overflow tube and limiting the flow of water flowing through the refill tube to reduce the time difference between when the reservoir reaches a first predetermined water level and when the bowl reaches a second predetermined water level. The passing water step may include passing water through a refill tube, positioned between the fill valve and the overflow tube.

The limiting step may be performed by a water limiting device, such as an adjustable valve or constriction device, positioned either in the middle of the refill tube, between the overflow tube and the refill tube, or between the fill valve and the refill tube. Alternatively, the device may be a component of the fill valve to which the refill tube is connected.

The limiting step may also include constricting the flow-through rate of water passing through the valve by measuring a continuous volume of water that flows through the valve, and stopping the flow of water when a set amount of water passes through the adjustable valve.

As exemplified, the present invention can be embodied in various forms, including mechanical and electrical implementations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other more detailed and specific features of the present invention are more fully disclosed in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a toilet and reservoir in accordance with the conventional art.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a toilet and reservoir in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of two example embodiments of water-flow limiting devices in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 illustrates a toilet bowl 201 and reservoir 202 in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention. The example embodiment employs an adjustable valve 203 as a component of refill tube 204.

Toilet includes a reservoir 202, designed to hold a first predetermined amount of water, indicated by reservoir water level 205. The water in the reservoir 202 may be held in place by a flush valve 206. The first predetermined amount of water in reservoir 202 may be determined based on the design of the toilet and the necessary amount of water for flushing the toilet bowl 201. The reservoir also includes an overflow tube 207, a fill valve 208, having a float 209, a refill tube 204, having an adjustable valve 203, a flush handle 210, a rod 211, a flapper chain 212, and a flush valve 206, (a “flapper”).

The overflow tube 204 may be set at a height slightly above the first water level 205. The overflow tube 207 is connected to the connection tube 213. Water entering the overflow tube 207 passes through the connection tube directly into the toilet bowl 201. Should the refill mechanism in the toilet fail to stop the water from flowing into the reservoir, then the excess water will flow harmlessly into the overflow tube 206, and into the toilet bowl 201.

The refill tube 204 passes a portion of the water from the fill valve 208 into the overflow tube 207. In this example embodiment, adjustable valve 203 is positioned between the ends of the refill tube 204. In alternative embodiments, the adjustable valve 203 may be positioned at the beginning or end of the refill tube 204, in-line with the refill tube 204, between the fill valve 208 and the overflow tube 207.

Toilet bowl 201 contains a second predetermined amount of water, indicated by the second water level 214. The maximum height of the second water level 214 is determined by the design and height of the water trap 215. As water enters the bowl 201 from the top, the added water pressure forces water from the bottom of the bowl into trap 215 and into the main drain 216.

When the toilet is flushed i.e., torque is applied to handle 210, the flush valve 206 rises and the water from the reservoir 202 quickly enters the bowl 201, thereby forcing the waste and water in the toilet bowl 201 into the drain 216. This sudden increase in water pressure in the bowl creates a siphon effect in the trap 215, thereby causing the majority of the water in the toilet bowl to pass through the trap into the drain 216.

With the reservoir empty, the float 209 in the reservoir falls, thereby causing the fill valve 208 to open, which causes water from an external water supply hose 217 to flow into the reservoir 202 and the refill tube 204. The water flowing into the reservoir refills the reservoir to the water level 205. When the water level approaches the predetermined reservoir water level 205, the float 209 floats up and closes the fill valve 208, stopping the water from refilling the reservoir 202. The entire time that water from the fill valve 208 fills the reservoir 202, water also flows through refill tube 204 into overflow tube 207, and thereby refills the toilet bowl 201, as the reservoir is being filled.

In FIG. 1, to ensure proper filling in different water pressures and with different fill valve types, conventional toilets are designed to provide an excess of water to fill the toilet bowl. This guarantees that despite the toilet design, component combinations, and water pressure the toilet bowl will always fill to the second water level 214 prior to the reservoir 202 reaching the first water level 205, resulting in wasted water.

Unlike FIG. 1, the toilet in FIG. 2 includes the adjustable valve 203, mounted onto the refill tube 204. The adjustable valve allows the amount of water passing to the toilet bowl 201, in FIG. 2, to be adjusted so that the difference of the amount of time between when the reservoir 202 is filled to the first water level 205 and when the toilet bowl 201 fills to the second water level 214 may be minimized. By synchronizing the times when both the reservoir 202 and the toilet bowl 201 reach their respective water levels, it is possible to reduce the amount of water that flows from the refill tube into the toilet bowl 201, thereby reducing the amount of wasted water that otherwise would flow to the drain 216.

In a typical toilet, the time difference between the time that the toilet bowl 106 fills to the level 103 and until the fill valve 113 closes, may result in ½ to 1½ liters of wasted water that goes down the drain. By experimentation, in a 3-gallon toilet, use of an adjustable valve was able to reduce water consumption by about one liter per single use.

The use of an adjustable valve on the refill tube 204 provides the benefit that the water flow rate through the refill tube may be customized for each individual installation. This may be necessary because water pressure, toilet designs, and fill valve kits may differ and therefore require unique setting in each installation. By using an adjustable valve, each installation can be calibrated for these different variables, either by calculation or by trial-and-error.

The adjustable valve 203 may be a mechanical, or an electrical device operating on typical municipal power or batteries.

The adjustable valve 203 may operate by constricting the amount of water that passes to the toilet bowl 201. The adjustable valve 203 may be a valve, a pinch, a squeeze valve or any other device that may constrict the potential water flow by reducing or diverting part of the amount of water from passing to the water bowl 201. For example, instead of an actual value, adjustable valve 203 may be replaced by a “T” joint, or flow splitter, that diverts the proper proportions of water to both the bowl and reservoir such that the difference in refill times between the bowl and reservoir may be minimized or reduced.

FIG. 3 shows two examples of two flow-control valves that can be used to control the water flow through the refill tube 204: An adjustable valve 301 and a “Clamp & Squeeze” valve 302.

Alternatively, the adjustable valve may be replaced with any non-adjustable constriction or water limiting device that is selected by calculation or trial-and-error so as to reduce the time difference between the filling of the reservoir and toilet bowl to their respective pre-determined water levels. For example, the adjustable valve may be replaced by a pinching device, a construction device, or any device that permanently limits the flow of water to synchronize the reservoir and bowl fill times. For example, a kit to modify a conventional toilet, in accordance with the disclosed invention, may contain a series of water limiting or constriction components, where the ideal constricting or limiting component is selected by trial and error.

Alternatively, the adjustable valve 203 may operate by measuring the amount of water that passes to the toilet bowl during each flush and halting any water from passing once a given amount of water enters the toilet bowl.

In another alternate embodiment, the adjustable valve 203 may be integrated with fill valve 208 into a single device or kit, thereby providing comparable functionality to the adjustable valve, in-line between the fill valve opening and the refill tube 204.

Finally, the adjustable valve may be built into the refill tube 204 or fill valve 208, or may be supplied as a separate kit for installation by professional plumbers, home owners, tenants or any person.

Thus embodiments of the present invention produce and provide APPARATUS AND METHOD TO CONTROL AND ADJUST WATER CONSUMPTION BY A TOILET DURING REFILL OF THE BOWL AND RESERVOIR. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, the invention may be variously embodied without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the following claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein in any way. 

1. An apparatus that reduces water consumption in a toilet following the release of water from a reservoir, comprising: a bowl; a reservoir that holds water from a water source; a connection tube connecting the reservoir to the bowl; a fill valve that includes a water level detection mechanism for detecting whether water in the reservoir is below a first predetermined water level; an overflow tube that passes water to the connection tube; a refill tube positioned to connect the flow of water between the fill valve and the overflow tube; a water limiting device that limits the flow of water between the fill valve and the overflow tube; wherein the water limiting device limits the flow of water flowing through the refill tube, thereby reducing the time difference between when the reservoir reaches the first predetermined water level and when the bowl reaches a second predetermined water level.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water limiting device is positioned between the fill valve and the refill tube.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water limiting device is positioned in the middle of the refill tube.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water limiting device is positioned between the overflow tube and the refill tube.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water limiting device is a component of the fill valve to which the refill tube is connected.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water limiting device is an adjustable valve.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the adjustable valve is a mechanical valve that constricts the flow-through rate of water passing through the valve.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the adjustable valve is a mechanical valve that measures a continuous volume of water that flows through the valve, and limits the volume of water passing there-through to a predetermined amount.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the adjustable valve is an electric valve that constricts the flow-through rate of water passing through the valve.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the adjustable valve is an electric valve that measures a continuous volume of water that flows through the valve, and limits the volume of water flowing there-through to a predetermined amount.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water limiting device is a pinching device that constricts the refill tube.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water limiting device is a compression tube that constricts the refill tube.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water limiting device limits the flow of water flowing through the refill tube to synchronize the time when the reservoir reaches the first predetermined water level and when the bowl reaches a second predetermined water level.
 14. A method for reducing water consumption in a toilet following the release of water from a reservoir, comprising: detecting that the water in the reservoir is below a first predetermined water level; passing water through a fill valve into the reservoir and an overflow tube, including passing water through a refill tube, positioned between the fill valve and the overflow tube; and limiting the flow of water flowing through the refill tube to reduce the time difference between when the reservoir reaches a first predetermined water level and when the bowl reaches a second predetermined water level.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the limiting step is performed by a water limiting device positioned either in the middle of the refill tube, between the overflow tube and the refill tube, or between the fill valve and the refill tube.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the limiting step is performed by a water limiting device which is a component of the fill valve to which the refill tube is connected.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the limiting step is performed by an adjustable valve.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the adjustable valve is a mechanical valve, and the limiting step includes constricting the flow-through rate of water passing through the valve.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the adjustable valve is a mechanical valve, and the limiting step includes measuring a continuous volume of water that flows through the adjustable valve, and stopping the flow of water when a set amount of water has passed through the adjustable valve.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the adjustable valve is an electric valve, and the limiting step includes constricting the flow-through rate of water passing through the adjustable valve.
 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the adjustable valve is an electric valve and the limiting step includes measuring a continuous volume of water that flows through the adjustable valve, and stopping the flow of water when a set amount of water has passed through the adjustable valve.
 22. The method of claim 14, wherein the water limiting device is one of a pinching device or a compression tube that constricts the refill tube. 